Hilary Maddox's face burned bright red, wet wisps of a blond ponytail clinging to her face as she spoke in a steady voice while water spilled out of her eyes.
"What was the greatest thing about our team, no one really had . . ." The senior midfielder bent her head. Her hands covered her eyes, fingers pinching her nose, her face contorted. Her teammates patted her on the back.
"Come back to her," one said, smiling, and reporters smoothly moved to the next question.
It was May 20, a dreary Sunday afternoon, and Princeton (15-4) had just lost to Maryland, 16-8. Lost a 4-3 halftime lead. Lost a national championship. The Terrapins (21-1) won their sixth straight title on attack Jen Adams' second-half performance — ducking and darting around a suddenly stagnant Tiger defense, Adams had five goals and five assists, her 10 points a tournament record.
But the Tigers sat proudly next to Maddox, who straightened up and managed a smile. It was the last game of her last season. But what a season. After graduating eight seniors — including seven starters, among them Cristi Samaras '99, Princeton's all-time leader in points, goals and assists — the Tigers entered the season ranked No. 9, harboring vague hopes of winning the Ivy League.
But after a loss to Loyola on March 12, Princeton powered its way through the rest of its schedule, defeating Duke and Georgetown to secure a stunning No. 2 ranking. The Tigers would stay there for all but one week the rest of the season. "Obviously I'm really proud of this team," said head coach Chris Sailer, flashing her widest smiles of the season. "We never expected to be here."
"Princeton was a formidable opponent," Terrapin head coach Cindy Timchal said. "They took us to the limit and we really stepped it up in the second half."
But in the first half, it seemed as though Princeton might push the Terrapins past their breaking point. Princeton won the first draw — a statistic crucial to its success all season — and funneled the ball patiently around the perimeter before sophomore attack and leading scorer Kim Smith was fouled driving to the net. She hit the post on the free-position shot.
Maryland sprinted downfield, spreading the Princeton defense out so that Courtney Hobbs could duck in. The defense collapsed around her, and she converted off a free position, giving the Terrapins a fast 1-0 lead with 27 minutes, 47 seconds left in the half.
Counterattack
But Princeton won the second draw and Ivy League Rookie of the Year attack Whitney Miller sent the ball soaring over the goal. The crowd groaned. Princeton scooped up the ground ball and drew Maryland defenders out to the sides, leaving Maddox open at the top of the circle. She hit the top of the post.
The Tigers maintained possession and flipped the ball to sophomore attack Lauren Simone, stationed behind the net. She swerved forward and shoveled the ball in.
The Tigers had scored. Tie game.
Princeton won the next draw control and junior midfielder Julie Shaner spun around and bounced a shot into the net with 14:44 to go in the half. Scampering after ground balls, the Tigers began creating their own shots, dominating offensively and defensively while Maryland hovered awkwardly.
When Smith faked around the normally sure-footed Maryland defender Courtney Martinez and converted a shot to give Princeton a 3-1 lead, the Terrapins looked stunned. Timeout Maryland.
But in the second half, it was reversed. The defense that had sealed off so many pathways in the first half started to stumble on its slides, leaving players open.
And then there was Adams.
But it almost didn't matter. Now there's next year.
"Now we know what it feels like to be here," Simone said. "Now that we know I can't really see us settling for less the next couple of years."
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